KX Pilates fuses traditional reformer pilates with an element of high intensity. The revolutionary KX workout is a fast-paced, high-intensity body-toning session in just 50 minutes. It allows you to workout smarter, not longer. It’s about strength, co-ordination, balance, flexibility and muscular endurance.

Japanese for ‘change for the better’ the Kaizen experience – or KX – is a philosophy that focuses on small and ongoing improvement. Expect a blend of the elements of traditional reformer pilates with cardio and endurance training to create a high-intensity workout.

Why Pilates?

Pilates is a dynamic style of exercise that utilises the whole body and makes you aware of muscles you didn’t even know existed. Pilates will give you a lean balanced physique while making you more resistant to the everyday stresses of work and life. You will increase your flexibility, balance and co-ordination, stand taller, be stronger and have overall better cardiovascular health.

The reformer pilates experience

Reformer pilates is similar yet very different to mat-based pilates. Reformer pilates uses the pilates reformer machine and is generally more intense and dynamic as it adds resistance to the pilates exercises via the use of the springs which form part of the machine.

The pilates reformer looks like a bed with springs and has a sliding carriage, ropes and pulleys. The origins of the pilates reformer date back to the original Pilates studio in New York in the 1920s and was designed by Joseph Pilates himself. The springs that provide much of the resistance from the reformer are generally quite strong. Most reformers have up to five springs and when combined can add up to a considerable resistance. As there are five springs, using only one or two of them can provide a gentler resistance depending on the exercise and the muscle being worked. This means that the intensity can be varied considerably from one person to the next, making it an incredibly versatile piece of equipment to use as a workout or rehab tool.

The exercises usually work muscles through a large range of motion, which is ideal for building and toning muscles as well increasing stability through the joints. Reformer pilates can be used as a sport-specific cross-training tool. It works on core stabilisation which is vital to any athlete as well as muscle endurance, lactate tolerance, peripheral joint stability, muscle strength, balance, co-ordination and more.

The KX workout

The KX workout is intensified by using more muscle fibres in the shortest amount of time, and by reducing the amount of time between exercise sets. This style of training works by targeting the whole body through continuous, precise controlled movements and functional exercises that increase the intensity of the workout while engaging the core and delivering cardiovascular conditioning.

Pilates is based on the ‘isolate, fatigue, stretch’ principle and KX Pilates targets the whole body. This burns more calories per minute, resulting in a much stronger post-exercise reaction. In other words, you will continue to burn calories hours after the class has finished.

Regular Reformer Pilates helps build a stronger core, improves posture, mood, body shape and muscle tone, increases flexibility, builds optimal health and helps you to move more efficiently. It takes stress off joints and bones while providing a challenging, overall body workout. There are so many benefits, and so many reasons to give it a try.

Disclaimer: This article was provided by KX Pilates Mornington, 222 Main Street. See https://kxpilates.com.au/studio/mornington-pilates-studio/